Appetizer Tray and System

ABSTRACT

A system comprising a tray, utensils, and utensil adapters is disclosed. The tray features a plurality of holes into which customized utensils may be placed vertically, or into which standard utensils fitted to appropriate adapters may be placed vertically. In addition, the tray features one or more recesses, which may contain a sauce or dip, or may contain a serving utensil (itself too large to be placed vertically in a hole while maintaining stability). The system allows the user to serve utensils needed to consume an appetizer course or other food serving in an elegant and efficient manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of serving trays, and specifically to trays that, together with utensils and adapters, make up a system for serving utensils with appetizers. The problem of serving appetizers requiring utensils is well known among those who like to entertain. When appetizers requiring cutlery are to be served away from a dining table, for example to standing guests or to guests seated around a coffee table, then utensils must be distributed along with the appetizers themselves. One way to handle this is to place the required utensil on the individual plate, which may affect the appearance of the dish and may also fall from the plate, thereby creating a mess. Another way to handle this is to distribute utensils separately, by having the host or server deliver them individually, however this is inefficient and inelegant. A useful system, therefore would allow for appetizers to be served with utensils in a manner that is efficient and elegant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is a system comprising a tray, utensils, and utensil adapters. The tray features a plurality of holes into which customized utensils may be placed vertically, or into which standard utensils fitted to appropriate adapters may be placed vertically. In addition, the tray features one or more recesses, which may contain a sauce or dip, or may contain a serving utensil (itself too large to be placed vertically in a hole while maintaining stability).

It is an object of an invention to provide a serving tray for utensils to accompany an appetizer course or other food serving that stores the utensils in an elegant and efficient manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set of customized utensils that may be easily stored vertically in a tray so as to be presented elegantly and efficiently.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set of adapters by which standard utensils may be stored vertically in a tray so as to be presented elegantly and efficiently.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tray that may carry a dip or sauce, or one or more large serving utensils in addition to a set of eating utensils.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side-elevated view of the first exemplary embodiment of the system equipped with exemplary utensils.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an exemplary customized fork.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of an exemplary standard fork with a paddle-handle in conjunction with an adapter.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary adapter for use with a paddle-handle utensil.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary standard fork with a cylindrical handle in conjunction with an adapter.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of an exemplary adapter for use with a utensil having a cylindrical handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is a system comprising a tray, utensils, and adapters. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system as it might be prepared for use. In FIG. 1, a tray 10 features a first recess 11 for holding a dip or sauce and a second recess 12 for holding a serving fork 13. The tray 10 also features a plurality of circular holes 14 that penetrate only partway through the material of the tray 10. Fitted to the holes 14 are several utensils with handles customized for use with the tray 10. Specifically, a pair of chopsticks 15 and a fork 16 are placed on the tray 10 vertically with their customized ends resting in and being supported by the circular holes 14.

Referring still to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the tray 10 is made from nearly any material. Woods, metals, ceramics, and stones may be used to provide elegance, while rigid durable plastics may be more resistant to injury if dropped and may be more easily cleaned. The tray 10 may be rigid, but need not be; for example the tray 10 may be made from semi-rigid silicone and therefore able to be flexed, or even folded or rolled for storage. Within the top surface of the tray is a first recess 11, which is intended to hold a dipping sauce; any liquid may be stored in the recess, and such liquid may be placed inside of a separate container that is set into the recess 11. A complimentary container may be custom manufactured, or the recess 11 may be sized to accept standard commercially available containers. A second recess 12 is also provided and intended for use with a serving utensil that is itself too large or heavy to be rested vertically in the holes 14; virtually any utensil may be stored in the second recess 12.

Referring still to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, exemplary utensils, specifically, a pair of chopsticks 15 and a fork 16 are shown. The utensils used with the invention are not limited to forks and chopsticks, but may include spoons, knives, skewers, nutcrackers, or any other utensil that may be usefully served with an appetizer or other food course. The exemplary utensils of FIG. 1 are custom-manufactured with handles designed to fit the holes 14. Such utensils may, as with standard eating utensils, be made of almost any material, including wood, metal, plastic, and ceramic. FIG. 2 shows a front view of a customized fork. In FIG. 2, the fork 20 has a fitted handle 21, which is circular in cross-section and of an appropriate diameter to fit the holes 14. A lip 22 prevents the fork 20 from sinking too far into the hole 14. In addition, the holes 14 need not be circular, but may be square, triangular, etc., as long as the custom utensils and adapters are shaped appropriately to be fitted into the holes 14.

The invention may also be used with standard utensils. FIG. 3 shows a conventional fork with a flat paddle-handle and an adapter, and FIG. 4 shows a top view of the adapter. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a standard fork 30 has a flat handle 31 that is rounded in the plane of the handle only. The butt of the fork 30 is pressed into an adapter 32 having a lip 33 and is removably retained there by the force of friction between the fork handle 31 and the adapter 32. In FIG. 4, the adapter is shown having a circular top 40 and a slot opening 41 into which the flat handle 31 may be pressed.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional fork with a cylindrical handle and an adapter, and FIG. 6 shows a top view of the adapter. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a standard fork 50 has a cylindrical handle 51 that is rounded with respect to the axial line of the fork 50. The butt of the fork 50 is pressed into an adapter 52 having a lip 53 and is removably retained there by the force of friction between the fork handle 51 and the adapter 52. In FIG. 6, the adapter is shown having a circular top 60 and a round opening 61 into which the flat handle 31 may be pressed.

The adapters 40 and 60 are preferably made of a pliable material so as to be able to accommodate a broad range of utensil sized by expanding or contracting as necessary to fit each utensil to the holes 14. Example materials include rubber and silicone. The adapters may be manufactured in any number of versions with openings of all shapes and sizes so as to fit different kinds of utensils. The only requirement is that the outside shape of the adapters 40 and 60 be compatible with that of the holes 14.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A utensil base comprising: a) an insertion member being of a shape compatible with any of a plurality of holes in the first face of a rigid storage tray; b) said insertion member having a non-inserted portion that extends beyond said hole when said insertion member is inserted into said hole; c) said insertion member having a flange integrated therein and located at the immediate base of said non-inserted portion: and d) said flange is short in its axial dimension relative to the overall length of said insertion member; whereby a utensil attached to said base may be stored on said tray by inserting said base into said hole.
 6. The utensil base of claim 5 wherein said utensil base is made a part of a utensil.
 7. The utensil base of claim 5 wherein the exposed face of said non-inserted portion has a hole of a shape compatible with the shape of the base of one or more commonly available utensils.
 8. The utensil base of claim 5 wherein said utensil base is made of a flexible material.
 9. An appetizer serving system comprising: a) a tray having a rigid member, said rigid member having a first face wider and longer than said rigid member's height, said first face having one or more holes penetrating into said rigid member, and said holes being of congruent shape such that a compatibly shaped rigid object may be slid into any of them without preference; b) and one or more utensil bases, each having an insertion member being of a shape compatible with any of a plurality of holes in the first face of a rigid storage tray, said insertion member having a non-inserted portion that extends beyond said hole when said insertion member is inserted into said hole, said insertion member having a flange integrated therein and located at the immediate base of said non-inserted portion, and said flange is short in its axial dimension relative to the overall length of said insertion member; whereby one or more utensils attached to said one or more bases may be stored on said tray by inserting said one or more bases into one or more of said holes.
 10. The appetizer serving system of claim 9 further comprising: a) a serving utensil; b) a first recess in said first face of said tray; c) and said first recess being of sufficient size and depth to accommodate said serving utensil.
 11. The appetizer serving system of claim 9 further comprising: a) a container; b) a second recess in said first face of said tray; c) and said second recess being of sufficient size and depth to accommodate said container.
 12. The appetizer serving system of claim 9 wherein one or more of said utensil bases is made a part of a utensil.
 13. The appetizer serving system of claim 9 wherein the exposed face of one or more of said non-inserted portions of said utensil bases has a hole of a shape compatible with the shape of the base of one or more commonly available utensils.
 14. The appetizer serving system of claim 9 further comprising: a) a serving utensil; b) a first recess in said first face of said tray; c) said first recess being of sufficient size and depth to accommodate said serving utensil; d) a container; e) a second recess in said first face of said tray; f) said second recess being of sufficient size and depth to accommodate said container; g) one or more of said utensil bases being made a part of a utensil; h) and one or more of said utensil bases is made of a flexible material. 